A heat wave is hitting SLO County. Here are 5 ways to keep your kids cool

This story is part of SLO Tribune's Parents Central, our expanding coverage for local parents. We're tackling issues that matter to you the most, explaining the "what it means," from school budgets to children's health. We also want to have fun: Send us your best tips for local parents and things to do. Email [email protected].

A heat wave is hitting San Luis Obispo County this week — and with kids home from school for the summer, families will be looking for fun ways to cool off.

According to the National Weather Service, the North County will see temperatures up to the high 90s on Thursday.

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Meteorologist John Lindsey was up in Paso Robles on Wednesday and posted that his car thermometer topped out at 102 degrees.

“You knew that as soon as the Mid-State Fair began to come together in earnest, triple-digit temperatures were sure to follow,” he said.

Back in Los Osos, he noted, it was 58 degrees.

Temperatures in Avila Beach and San Luis Obispo will hover around 83 degrees on Thursday, and Pismo Beach will see a high of 70.

So if you’re looking to beat the heat, the best tip may be to head to the coast.

But with beaches, lakes, pools and plenty of free indoor activities available, there’s no shortage of options for local families looking to stay cool.

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As part of our Parents Central series, we put together a list of some favorite ways to beat the summer heat.

Go to the beach

SLO County is home to some beautiful beaches that are perfect for families looking to soak up the sun or cool off in the water.

Pack your sunscreen and snacks and hit one of these sandy spots this week.

Avila Beach: Protected and south-facing, Avila Beach is a good option for families looking for a beach day. Kids can take a swim, build sandcastles and watch for marine life. Plus, the beach is just steps away from plenty of waterfront restaurants and shops, as well as the Central Coast Aquarium, which is open daily to ticket-holders from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets are $10 for general admission, $8 for kids and $7 for seniors and military members.

Avila Beach in San Luis Obispo County, California, was crowded on Sunday, Aug. 16, as a statewide heat wave hit causing temperatures to soar.

Pismo Beach: Pismo Beach is another good option for families looking to enjoy the summer while staying cool. Take a walk along the pier before heading down to the sand, setting up a blanket and chairs and letting the kids splash in the water and play along the shore.

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Other good beach options in SLO County include Morro Strand, Cayucos and Moonstone Beach.

Enjoy one of SLO County’s lakes

If the beach isn’t quite your speed or you’re not a fan of sand, maybe a trip to a local lake is a better choice.

SLO County is home to a couple lakes where families can enjoy fishing, swimming and an overall kid-friendly getaway.

Lake Nacimiento: Located northwest of Paso Robles, Lake Nacimiento is a great option for North County families. The lake offers boat, paddleboard and fishing pole rentals. Plus, swimming is permitted. According to its website, the average water temperature hovers around 72 degrees, approaching 80 in the summer. A Lake Nacimiento day use pass costs $18 per vehicle.

Campers and visitors at Lake Lopez in rural Arroyo Grande enjoy the cool water and a little breeze to stave off the summer SLO County heat.

Lopez Lake Recreation Area: Lopez Lake is located about 10 miles east of Arroyo Grande, making it another nearby option for SLO County families. The lake is open for fishing and swimming, with an average water temperature of 70 degrees, its website says. As an added bonus, Lopez is adjacent to Mustang Waterpark, which has two 600-foot waterslides, as well as smaller pools for young kids. A day-use pass for Lopez Lake costs $12 per car. Tickets range from $25 to $33.

Hit the pool or waterpark

Community pools are another great way to beat the heat — and SLO County has a few options in close proximity to most families.

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SLO Swim Center: The SLO Swim Center is located at 902 Southwood Drive, nestled against Sinsheimer Park in San Luis Obispo. The swim center offers an Olympic-sized pool with diving boards, a kids pool and a therapy pool, according to its website. During its summer season, the pool is open for recreational swim from 1:45 to 4 p.m. seven days a week. Monday through Friday, recreational swim is also open in the therapy pool from 5:30 to 7:20 p.m. Entry to the pool costs $5.25 for adults and $4.47 for seniors and youth.

Atascadero High School: The city of Atascadero launched a new aquatics program in June 2025. According to a city news release, recreational swimming is available at the Atascadero High School pool Monday-Friday from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Drop-in passes for recreational swimming cost $5, according to the city.

Paso Robles Centennial Pool: The city of Paso Robles also offers recreational swimming at its Centennial pool, located at 600 Nickerson Drive. According to the city’s summer swim flyer, the pool is open for recreational swimming Monday through Thursday from 1 to 4 p.m. Swim passes cost $5 per day, and kids under 1 get free entry.

Kids play in the Calypso Bay Wave Pool at The Ravine Water Park in Paso Robles as temperatures hit the triple-digits on Thursday, July 27, 2023.

Templeton Pool: Templeton’s public pool is open for recreational swimming from 1 to 5 p.m. on an irregular schedule. According to a flyer on the SLO County Parks website, the Templeton pool is slated to be open Thursday, giving families another option to stay cool. Recreational swimming passes cost $3 for kids under 18, and $5 for adults. The website said the pool accepts cash and checks only.

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The Ravine: Another fun option is The Ravine Waterpark in Paso Robles. The waterpark offers multiple waterslides, a wave pool and other fun attractions. It’s open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. Day passes range from around $27 to $43 based on an entrant’s age and height. Children under 2 get free admission, according to the website.

Go get a frozen treat

Ice cream and other frozen treats are not only delicious, they also help kids to cool off from a long day under the sun.

And luckily, SLO County is home to several local spots that offer a range of ice cold snacks for the whole family.

Negranti Creamery: Negranti has several locations across SLO County, making it a good option for families anywhere. Negranti makes its ice cream from sheep’s milk, but also offers cow’s milk flavors and dairy-free options, its website says. Its Atascadero shop is nestled next to Ancient Owl Beer Garden, making it a great choice for parents who want to enjoy an adult beverage while the kids eat their ice cream. Similarly, the Tin City location is close to plenty of other food and drink options. Negranti also has San Luis Obispo and Paso Robles locations.

Negranti Creamery is one of three businesses in the development built from shipping containers on El Camino Real across from The Carlton in Atascadero. It shares the space with Ancient Owl Beer Garden and Bottle Shoppe and Stellar + S.U.N. Hat Company.

Fosters Freeze: Fosters Freeze, located in Morro Bay, is a classic spot for families who want a more mom-and-pop experience. Fosters Freeze is a longtime California chain offering soft-serve cones, milkshakes and sundaes in addition to its food menu. Plus, the Morro Bay location sits just a short distance away from the Rock and the waterfront, making it a great choice for a full Central Coast experience.

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Hula Hut: Hula Hut in Avila Beach sits right along the waterfront, making it a good escape for families who want to enjoy a beach day, too. Hula Hut has a selection of ice cream, plus a food menu and smoothie options, candy and fudge. It’s open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. seven days a week, according to its Facebook page.

Hubbalicious: Arroyo Grande’s Hubbalicous Sweet Shoppe not only sells fudge and candy — it also serves a selection of Rosa Brother’s ice cream and milkshakes. Located in the heart of the Arroyo Grande Village, families can head to the park with their ice cream and browse other shops and restaurants. Hubbalicious is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and until 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, according to its Facebook.

Enjoy some indoor activities

SLO County also has plenty of indoor activities available for families who’d prefer to stay out of the sun.

SLO Children’s Museum: The San Luis Obispo Children’s Museum has three floors of engaging fun for kids to explore. The museum is open Thursday through Monday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets cost $10 for adults and children, free for kids 2 and under.

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SLO County libraries: Families can also escape the heat by exploring one of SLO County’s many library locations. Library cards are free for SLO County residents within the libraries’ service area. The county has library locations in Arroyo Grande, Atascadero, Cambria, Cayucos, Creston, Los Osos, Morro Bay, Nipomo, Oceano, SLO, San Miguel, Santa Margarita, Shandon and Shell Beach. Paso Robles residents are now served exclusively by the Paso Robles City Library, rather than SLO County libraries, according to the county’s website.

Movie theaters: If you want to get out of the heat and into some delicious air conditioning for a couple hours, a matinee at a local movie theater could fit the bill. SLO County has a variety of options from the Regal theater in Arroyo Grande and the Downtown Centre Cinemas in San Luis Obispo to Colony Cinemas in Atascadero and Park Cinemas in Paso Robles.

Nancy Sierra, Oceano Library manger shelves Spanish language children’s books. Oceano has a new library near the community center and elementary school on 19th Street, seen here Oct. 4, 2023.